Supporting Web-based Learning at
the University of Hong Kong
H
K
U
Computer
Centre
Fanny Chau
Computer Centre
The University of Hong Kong
April 2001
IT Infrastructure for Teaching and
Learning

H
K
U
Computer
Centre
high-speed campus Gigabit/FastEthernet
network
 powerful and high resilient servers
 student notebook PC program
 courseware tools for web-based courses
HKU Campus Network

H
K
U
Computer
Centre
14000 wired 100Mbps network points in student
halls, labs, department offices and open locations
over campus
 40+ classrooms/open areas equipped with
wireless LAN at up to 11Mbps
 800+ dial-up modem lines for home network
access; also partner up with ISP
 30Mbps connection to HARNET and 48Mbps to
Internet
 Virtual Private Network (VPN) gateway to allow
access to HKU Intranet via Internet
Intranet
-- Office
Network
H
K
U
Computer
Centre
HARNET
/Internet
Dial-up
Access
from Home
ACEnet -Access
Everywhere
Network
Core Backbone
Network at
Computer Centre
Hall
Network
Remote
Networks
Powerful Server for Web Courses

Current
a
pair of IBM RS6000/SP AIX supercomputers to
enhance system availability
 4x332 MHz CPUs and 1Gbyte memory each
H
K
U
Computer
Centre

July 2001
 A domain
on Sun E10000 server
 4x400 MHz CPUs and 2Gbyte memory

no restriction on disk consumption for web
courses
Notebook Computers for Students
 all Year
H
K
U
Computer
Centre
1 students can join notebook
purchase program starting from 1998
 pre-configured for connection to roaming
network (ACEnet), Hall Network, PPP
PC laboratory

H
K
U
Computer
Centre
central PC labs and Faculty PC labs run by
Computer Centre
 installed with many application software
 provides network printing service at cost
 all connected to campus network and Internet
Web-based Teaching & Learning Tools
H
K
U
Computer
Centre
Nov 1997
Mar 1998
Oct 1998
Mar 2001
Started looking for tools
Introduced WebCT to HKU
100 courses created
549 courses created
Supporting WebCT at HKU –
System Support
 System
maintenance
 Backup, Testing,
Upgrade
 WebCT
3.5 trial server open for testing now
 July 2001 production server upgraded to v3.5
H
K
U
Computer
Centre
 Program customization
 Automatic Account
 Create WebCT
System
student accounts according to
Registry enrollment database
Supporting WebCT at HKU User Support
 Training on WebCT
3
labs
 Introduction to WebCT functions
 Designing web-based courses with WebCT
 Next
H
K
U
Computer
Centre
training - May 15, 2001

General trainings on html editing
 Email and hotline
– front line support
 Webct@ecourse.hku.hk – WebCT group
 Respond within 1 working day
 Help Desk – 28592480
 WebCT system administrator – 22415183
 Ccbox@hkucc.hku.hk
Supporting WebCT at HKU Information update

H
K
U
Computer
Centre
HKU WebCT homepage
http://www.hku.hk/cc/webct
 mailing list for course designers
 seminars
Thank you!
H
K
U
Computer
Centre